Police are investigating the death of an employee at an Albuquerque Walmart who collapsed following a shoplifting incident at the store.

Police said David Johnson died in a store office where two shoplifting suspects were being held Saturday after allegedly trying to steal $28 worth of merchandise. Johnson was called to the office to help hold the couple until police arrived.

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Police spokeswoman Nadine Hamby said investigators are trying to determine how Johnson died.

Hamby said witnesses claimed Johnson fell to the ground and was not breathing, while another witness said there was a possible struggle with one of the suspects.

The couple, Andrew Romero and Daniela Sanchez, have also been charged with child abuse stemming from the shoplifting incident as their three children were with them at the time.

Sanchez said she saw it all.

"They were just struggling and cussing and yelling at each other. All of a sudden, the man falls back and it appeared that he wasn't breathing well," she said.

Sanchez said Romero wanted to flee.

"He wanted to get out, so there was a struggle with him and three other people," she said.

During the struggle, Johnson died.

"And then he just started having a seizure and they told me to leave, to just get of there," she said.

Romero is on the books for a long list of crimes. In 2005, he was charged with murder before pleading down to voluntary manslaughter.

However, Sanchez said her boyfriend was handcuffed when Johnson collapsed and she insists Romero never put his hands on Johnson.

Sanchez also said she didn't know Romero was allegedly stealing something.

"I'm getting charged with child abuse and I had nothing to do with the shoplifting or the man's death," she said. "Scared? I'm very terrified. I can't even see my children," she said.

Sanchez posted a $10,000 bond and is awaiting trial. The judge reduced Romero's bond from a no-bond hold to $50,000 cash.

The Office of the Medical Investigator said it won't likely have a cause of death for Johnson for a couple of weeks.